Walkers list risks of global warming

Political editor of The Age

Victorian bushwalkers have warned that climate change will discourage walkers from venturing out and make things more difficult and hazardous for those who do.

In a submission to the Senate inquiry on extreme weather events, Bushwalking Victoria says it has ''serious concerns about the effects of climate change on bushwalking''.

It predicts flow-on impacts for community prosperity, health and wellbeing from any decline in the activity ''as bushwalking contributes very considerably to community health, both physically and mentally, and to the local economies in the areas in which it takes place''.

Bushwalking Victoria, founded in 1934, says it represents the ''common interests'' of more than 70 Victorian bushwalking clubs with more than 8000 members. ''Outcomes of increased global warming are expected to include very high daytime temperatures, and increased severity and frequency of bushfires and storms,'' its submission says.

Advertisement

''These will deter bushwalkers from heading outdoors because of the danger of being caught in wildfires or weather likely to bring down trees and flood streams . . . Walkers will also be deterred from venturing on hikes by temperatures likely to produce dehydration and heat stroke or by torrential rain.

''With increasing temperatures, they will also have to carry more water, and therefore more weight . . .''

Global warming would also bring more fragile ecosystems. Ecological ''moonscapes'' would be unlikely to attract walkers; there may be a need to curb bushwalking in areas to protect a rising number of endangered species.

Walking trails would also suffer from the effects of extreme weather.

''More trees are likely to come down on established tracks, while with increased runoff of intermittent torrential rainwater from baked surfaces, landslides and severe gully and sheet erosion will wipe out significant lengths of track.''

These effects would not just create nightmares for authorities such as Parks Victoria but again provide disincentives for walkers.

There would be similar effects on roads with access to trail heads severely diminished.